Welcome back to Speed. Sebastien Ogier’s hopes of winning the Rally of Argentina were dashed on Friday when he suffered a mechanical failure on the
ADVERTISEMENTWelcome back to Speed. Sebastien Ogier’s hopes of winning the Rally of Argentina were dashed on Friday when he suffered a mechanical failure on the second stage. So, with the current overall leader out of contention in South America, let’s see which driver made the most of the situation.
Meeke clinches Rally Argentina
Britain’s Kris Meeke kept his composure to secure his maiden World Rally Championship victory in the Rally Argentina on Sunday.
The Citroen driver finished 18.1 seconds ahead of team-mate Mads Ostberg of Norway, becoming the first Briton to win at this level since Rally legend Colin McRae in 2002
Welsh driver Elfyn Evans earned his first WRC podium finish as he took third in his Ford Fiesta after Finland’s Jari-Matti Latvala suffered a mechanical failure on Sunday morning.
There was a little consolation for reigning World Rally Champion Sebastien Ogier, who won the Power Stage to claim three bonus points and maintain his lead in the 2015 points table.
Rally legend
Rally legend, Miki Biasion, grabbed motorsport headlines in the 80’s, winning both the Italian and European Championships as well as back to back World Rally triumphs. Let’s go back in time to the 1986 Rally of Argentina which saw the Italian secure his maiden win at WRC level.
It was a spectacular and totally committed driving style that brought Miki Biasion to the attention of Motorsport fans in the early 80’s, and there was to be no denying the natural talent that ultimately rewarded him with his first title in Argentina. The Lancia driver edged out team-mate Markku Alen while Stig Blomqvist had to settle for third place, his 28th podium finish.
Biasion proved unstoppable a few years later as he claimed the World Rally Championships in 1988 and 1989, making him only the second driver to successfully defend his title.
Rossi’s resurgence
Nine-time world champion, Valentino Rossi, opened the 2015 Moto GP season in spectacular style with a thrilling victory for Yamaha in Qatar. The Italian’s dream start continued with a hard-fought podium finish at the Grand Prix of the Americas and an impressive win in Argentina.
“The Doctor” defied the march of time as he worked his way up through the pack from eighth position on the grid to take the chequered flag and signal his resurgence.
Rossi now has a six point lead over Andrea Dovizioso in the MotoGP World Championship standings, and is 30 points ahead of the man most likely to come between him and an incredible eighth premier-class title – Marc Marquez.
Grand Prix of Europe
Well, that’s all we have time for this week, but we’ll be back on May the 3rd for another edition of Speed where we’ll be looking at the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez. In the meantime, we end this programme with some of the best moments from the Motorcross Grand Prix of Europe in the Netherlands. See you soon.